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Herb Vincent Peterson, MFA
The South Carolina School of the Arts
The South Carolina School of the Arts
Associate Professor of Design
hpeterson@andersonuniversity.edu
Chiquola 100
Academic Background
Herb Vincent Peterson is an Associate Professor of Design in the South Carolina School of the Arts where he oversees the Design for America Studio, the Professional Student Group, AIGA, and runs the BFA Graphic Design Internship program.
BFA: Visual Communication Design and Photography, Herron School of Art and Design
Certificate: Interdisciplinary Specialization Fine Art and Design Education, The Ohio State University
MFA, Art + Design, The Ohio State University
Ph.D, Design, Social Impact Pedagogies, North Carolina State University (In Progress)
Fast Facts
I teach design studio courses that immerse students in project-based learning and hands-on making. Together, we explore the complexities of design and develop iterative solutions that prioritize people and sustainability. My classes encourage embracing ambiguity, taking bold risks, and fostering broad inclusion. I strive to create a learning environment that welcomes and celebrates diverse perspectives, cultivating a diplomatic, authentic, and real human learning experience while having fun.
There will be jokes, dad jokes, and stories along the way.
My teaching practice is grounded in a deep sense of calling and purpose. Each day, I view my work as a privilege that extends well beyond a job description. At AU, I have the opportunity to bring this calling to life and create studio spaces where meaningful, faith-driven conversations about the complexities of our world can flourish.
Design is bigger than you think. Find me, I’ll tell you more.
The most rewarding aspect of teaching at AU is, without question, our incredible students. Every day, they inspire me and challenge me with fresh perspectives and new insights. Their compassion and courage shine as they design for communities in need of care and support. Witnessing their growth as they become designers who create meaningful, positive change in the world is truly one of the greatest privileges of my career.
Social Impact Design
Social Value in Design
Human Centered Design and Design Thinking
Community Based Design and Co-Creation
Design Facilitation
Design based Research
Peterson’s research and scholarly design work lie at the intersection of community, higher-ed, and design pedagogy. The ultimate goal of this work is to develop innovative and equitable design pedagogies that equip various socio-economic, diverse, marginalized, and undeserved community members to learn and apply design to their lives, conceivably empowering vibrant living. The research, produced in tandem with college design students, engages through community design-oriented workshops, placemaking efforts, design thinking sessions, and various qualitative research practices. Outcomes are shared, experienced, and modeled through versatile tool kits and sustainable solutions pointing to the numerous systemic social issues we face as community members. Lastly, the research is central to designing students’ learning by applying first-hand facilitation, co-design practices, human-centered design, design thinking, and implementation skills while building real-life experience.
Peterson’s social practice consists of various founded and co-founded community-oriented arts and design-based programs and organizations such as Itlookslikeitsopen (2007-Current), Video Support Group (2007-08), Open & Build (2008-09), and, most recently, Marion Design Co (2016-Current). As a design facilitator, Peterson employs a co-design process to help foster vibrant community-in-reach research through large-scale public interventions such as fashion shows and community remembrance projects. For the past seventeen years, Peterson has taught Design across the US at universities, including the Herron School of Art and Design, Ohio Dominican University, The Ohio State University, Indiana Wesleyan University, North Carolina State University, and the South Carolina School of the Arts: Anderson University, where he currently serves as an Associate Professor within the Graphic Design program. Peterson holds a BFA from Herron School of Art and Design, where he studied Photography and Visual Communication Design, an MFA emphasizing interdisciplinary research, focusing on Visual Design and Education from Ohio State University, and is currently working on a Doctorate in Design at the College of Design at North Carolina State University.